The Last Mile Trilogy Read online

  “Where’s Doc?” Robi asked.

  Manny pointed back. “Sleeping.”

  “Figures.” Robi shook her head.

  “I’m back,” Jeb announced. “Was that all that bad?”

  From the other vehicle, Greek called out, “Hey, guys.” He walked toward them, holding a stack of papers, eyes down not even watching where he went. “I was looking at my calculations …”

  It probably wouldn’t have made a difference if Greek had watched his step.

  Mid stride, mid-sentence, Greek’s body suddenly began to sink into the ground. For him as well as those watching, it appeared as if the earth was swallowing him as his body slowly sank deeper into the ground. Greek continued to melt until, at least from the waist down, he had become part of the earth. Papers flew from his hand and he screamed horrendously as he struggled to pull himself out.

  Jeb flew over to him ordering, “Everyone stay back!” as his body slammed to the ground and he grabbed onto Greek.

  With a grunt, Jeb pulled.

  Nothing.

  “He’s stuck,” Jeb called out.

  “My legs,” Greek moaned. “They’re being crushed. God, the pain.”

  “Hold on.” Jeb’s hands moved frantically around in the dirt. “I need a shovel. Something. Rope!”

  Robi climbed quickly to the top of the Humvee where their supplies were secured. She began to rummage for the needed items, while warning Nick to get back in the car.

  “Tate!” Jeb shouted, “Give me a hand.”

  Tate rushed over. He tried to lever Greek from the hole as Jeb’s hands scraped desperately at the dirt around him. “Greek, what does it feel like?” Tate asked. “I need to know... Are you pinned? Wedged?”

  “Grabbed,” Greek answered painfully. “Grabbed.”

  Tate mouthed the word ‘grabbed’ to Jeb, then faced Greek.

  Greek cried out, “Something’s pulling at me. Oh, God, Help!”

  After a bewildered glance at his brother, Tate jumped up. “I got an idea.”

  “What?” Jeb asked.

  “I got an idea,” Tate repeated, and then ran to the Humvee. “Everyone get far back. Robi! Back that thing up!”

  From the roof, Robi replied, “I’m getting the rope.”

  “No time. Back it up!” Tate ordered, and then jumped in the other Humvee.

  After a shrug, Robi climbed down from the roof and got back in the car.

  With a quick turn on the ignition, a shift of gears, and a squeal of tires, Tate sped backward past Robi a good fifty feet, put it in park and raced from the Humvee. He carried a small green bag and as he ran, he rummaged through it.

  He didn’t wait until Robi was backed up, his focus was forward. Grabbing something from the bag, he tossed it over his shoulder.

  “What are you doing?” Jeb asked.

  “Get ready to yank him,” Tate said.

  “Yank him?”

  “Yank him.” He smiled and lifted a grenade into Jeb’s view. “If something’s got him, the vibration should shake it lose.”

  Jeb grinned as well. “Good thinking.”

  “God, they’re gonna blow me up,” Greek said.

  Jeb mounted a hold on Greek. “Nah, we’re getting you out. Tate, do it!”

  Tate ran a few feet forward, pulled the pin from the grenade, waited a few seconds and set it down. Then, as if he did it on purpose for dramatic effect, he leaped in the air and fell as the explosion rocked the ground.

  Dirt, leaves, gravel flew up. Tate lifted his head in time to see Jeb heave a screaming Greek from the hole.

  “Got him!” Jeb cried out.

  Tate gave a thumbs up. He watched as his brother stood with Greek balanced on his shoulder. After the dirt had fallen, he could see that the legs of Greek’s pants were tattered and bloody. Tate stood as Jeb turned and began to move toward the Humvee then he hurried to follow. He stopped abruptly as he came to the hole, his foot kicking up the loose dirt around it. Its diameter was so small that Tate easily stepped over it. Then Tate stopped and slowly turned his head to peer back over his shoulder at the hole.

  “I saw a sign a few miles back,” Jeb said as he laid Greek in the back of the second Humvee. “A town ahead. We’ll have to stop.”

  Robi nodded. “I have a medical bag, but we may need more when we get there.”

  “We’ll check out the town for a doctor’s office, something.” He went to shut the rear door, when he saw his brother by the hole. “Tate!”

  Tate didn’t move.

  Bishop approached Jeb. “What’s wrong with your brother?”

  “I don’t know,” Jeb replied, “but can you go over and tell him to get a move on?”

  “Yeah, not a problem,” Bishop said. “Robi, will Greek be all right?”

  Robi shrugged. “I’ll have to look at him. His vitals are good. He doesn’t seem that bad.”

  “Good. Good” Bishop nodded as he backed up “I’ll go get Tate.”

  Jeb closed the rear door and looked at Robi. “Not that bad?”

  “Lower your voice.”

  Jeb tried. “Not that bad? His legs are crushed.”

  “I know, I know.”

  “So why didn’t you say anything?”

  Robi chuckled in disbelief. “Because how in the world can we explain it? Jeb, how did his legs get crushed by falling in a hole?”

  Jeb didn’t have an answer.

  Tate snapped from his dazed stare at the hole with a jolt when he felt Bishop’s at hand on his back. “Your brother wants you to …” he said and then noticed how Tate still seemed focused on that hole. “You … You OK?”

  Tate exhaled. “Yeah.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Waiting.”

  “Waiting? Waiting for what?”

  “I thought … I thought I saw something.”

  “Where,” Bishop asked, “in the hole?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What was it?”

  Tate shook his head. “Nothing.” He exhaled again. “It’s crazy.” He turned. “Let's go.” After a swat to Bishop’s back, he walked off.

  Bishop leaned forward toward the hole and peeked in somewhat apprehensively, just on the chance Tate had seen something strange in that hole. After a quick look revealed nothing, he followed Tate back to the where the others waited.

  <><><><>

  The town was small, not the quintessential small town, more of a community off set from a big city. It had its appeal though.

  And like all the other towns, it was empty. Void of any life that wasn’t plant based.

  After the initial ‘dog check,’ they were able to find a doctor’s office. It was located on the main strip of town, but lacked the essentials needed to fully take care of Greek.

  He’d stopped feeling pain; the shock had taken care of that. An X-ray showed numerous breaks that Robi wasn’t capable of surgically correcting. So, after knocking Greek out cold with narcotics, with the help of Doc they pulled on his legs, shifting the bones back into place as best they could, then placed them in casts from the thighs down.

  The casts themselves were unique and different, probably weighing more than Greek himself. But since they couldn’t find the proper cast items at the doctor’s office, Manny created metal braces and used plaster to make casts.

  Greek probably would never walk again … if he survived at all.

  Would he survive? A few days would tell. His vital signs were good, but he needed to rest and not move.

  ‘Buckle down and settle in’ were the instructions given by Robi. They had to wait until Greek was strong enough to go forward. No one minded staying tight. Aside from the fact they weren’t in a huge hurry, Greek’s life was more important.

  The July Kentucky heat, along with playing basketball, caused Manny to sweat more than he liked. He played with Nick on a court lit by the moon and a few remaining battery streetlights.

  The sounds of the bouncing ball and Nick’s colorful commentary carried through the s
treets like a dinner bell echoes in an empty hall.

  They filled the night air.

  “Oh, yeah.” Nick bounced, moved and shuffled. “Nick Pierce, Olympian Dream, knows the pressures on …”

  “Will you just play the game?” Manny complained.

  Nick continued, “He has the skill and speed …”

  “Just play the game!”

  “But the pressure of winning this one is all too much for the young hopeful to handle.”

  “Christ, Nick.” Manny waved out his arms.

  “Nick sees an opening …”

  “Thank God.”

  “He goes for it, slips through, shoots and …. Scores!” Nick proceeded to jump up and down. “The crowd goes wild.” Just as he was about to do his imitation of a mock crowd cheering, applause and cheers rang out courtesy of the Hoyt brothers.

  Nick looked at them with a smile. “Thanks, guys.” He then passed the ball to Manny.

  Tate and Jeb stepped forward.

  “Can we play?” Tate asked.

  Manny chuckled as he dribbled the ball. “No.” He shook his head.

  “What?” Jeb asked in a humored shock. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Manny stared for a second, then again, shook his head. “No.”

  Jeb gasped in indignation and asked, “Why not?”

  Nick chuckled. “Dude, you’re like old. You may have a heart attack or something.”

  “I’m not old,” Jeb said. “I’m thirty five.”

  Nick smirked. “Yeah, right, so am I.”

  “No, you’re not,” Jeb said. “You’re seventeen.”

  Nick laughed and gave a nod of his head to Manny. “Your turn.”

  “Wait.” Tate held up his hand. “Seriously, we want to play. Why won’t you guys let us?”

  Manny held the ball against his hips. “Are you guys wanting to play us?”

  Tate nodded. “Yes.”

  “Then no,” Manny replied.

  “Why?” Tate asked.

  “For starters.” Manny approached the pair who stood in the center of their playing area, “Look at you guys. Look at us. Hmm? Neither of us is over five feet ten. You guys are large. There’s a fear factor that comes in here.”

  Tate looked at Jeb. “They’re scared.”

  Jeb nodded. “Intimidated.”

  Manny snickered. “No, shit. Second, and most importantly, me and Nick are having a good time. Something tells me that if we play you two, it would be a masochistic move on our part.”

  Jeb looked dumfounded. “Why?”

  “Because I just don’t think you two would play normal, maturely, or fair. There.” Manny nodded. “So if you don’t mind …,” he shooed his hand, “we have a game to finish.” He went back behind the foul line.

  “Oh my God,” Tate quipped. “You two suck.”

  Manny looked at Nick with a nod. “What did I say about maturity?”

  “I mean it,” Tate said. “You suck. You have a ball and won’t share.”

  Manny smiled at Nick. “Again, maturity. Next thing you know, they’ll threaten to knock out our street light.” He watched Tate and Jeb look at each other in contemplation.

  Jeb held up his hand. “Hold on. You two don’t want to play us? Right? Because we’re too big and you don’t think we’ll play fair. Then, what about this … we’ll split up. We’ll join your teams. Huh?”

  Manny gave it some thought, and then turned to Nick. “Well?”

  Nick shrugged. “It’s better than them harassing us.”

  “Yes,” Tate clenched his fist. “I’ll be fair. I’ll play on Manny’s team.”

  Jeb gave a swat to Nick’s back, sending him a foot forward. “Me and Nick, we’ll kick your asses.” He extended his reach and grabbed the ball from Manny. “Let’s jump for it.”

  Tate stood across from Jeb. “Toss it.”

  With apprehension, Manny took his position. “Let’s keep it clean guys. OK?”

  Jeb nodded and tossed up the ball. “Clean.”

  The ball came down between to the two brothers.

  Crack!

  Robi jolted from her porch reading when what sounded like a scream of pain from Manny rang out in the distance. She glanced up and started to stand.

  “I wouldn’t worry,” Bishop called out as he walked toward the porch. “They’re playing basketball down the street.

  Robi relaxed. “Why are they screaming?”

  “The Hoyt Destroyers are playing with them.”

  “Christ” Robi shook her head. “They better not hurt my kid.”

  “Well, it is Jeb and Tate he’s playing with.”

  “I’ll kill them.”

  Bishop chuckled and inched up onto the porch. “How’s Greek?”

  “Resting.”

  “He was resting a couple hours ago.”

  “I know.” Robi closed her book when Bishop sat back down. “You can go check on him.”

  “Nah. Will he make it?”

  Robi went silent.

  “Ah, you don’t know.”

  She looked at him. “I hope he does.”

  Bishop nodded. “I understand. So … how’s Martha.”

  “Strange. She’s sleeping.”

  Bishop gave a quirky smile. “How is that strange?”

  “She sleeps a lot.” Robi shrugged. “I guess I’m used to my own children. None of them really slept all that much.”

  “Maybe they did, but you were younger and your patience was thinner, so it didn’t seem like they did.”

  Robi stared at him.

  “I’m … I’m sorry. That wasn’t for me to say.”

  “No.” Robi shook her head. “I was going to comment on how profound that was. You may be right.”

  “What are you reading?” Bishop reached for her book. “May I?”

  Robi shrugged.

  When he saw the title, he laughed. “Robi, this is gay erotica.”

  “Yeah, The Pool Boy, I know.” She shrugged. “It was the only one in the house that caught my attention. I started reading it before I realized what it was.”

  “There’s a naked man on front. How did you not know?”

  “It was a hot naked man on front, Bishop. I didn’t think about it.”

  “Oh. So …what gave it away?” he asked.

  Robi flipped back a couple pages, and handed the book to Bishop. “Second paragraph. First sentence.”

  Bishop read the words and coughed. “OK, that would do it.” He handed it back. “Any good.”

  “Actually, yeah. The sex scenes are very well written.”

  “They’re gay sex scenes.”

  “I’m getting educated.”

  Bishop laughed, and then noticed she’d lifted a bottle of beer and taken a drink. “You’re drinking? I’ve not seen you drink alcohol before.”

  “I try not to in front of Nick too much. He says I’m an alcoholic.”

  “Nick has to deal with it. It’s a tough world now. You can’t possibly drink that much.”

  “Did you want one?”

  “Um, yeah, thanks.” Bishop watched as she reached down to a small cooler bag. “You have a six pack out here?”

  “I told you I can drink a lot.” She handed one to him. “So, let me ask you a question.”

  “Oh my God,” Bishop said.

  “What?”

  “You never ask me anything.”

  “I’m curious about this.”

  “Shoot.”

  “When you first joined us, you were so concerned about Juanita. You talked to her, for her, now we barely see her. Did you lose her?”

  “No.” Bishop enjoyed his beer. “You have to understand, I’m not always normal. And I had no one to talk to. I expanded on a practice I did as a kid. You know, always answering for her. But now, I have all you guys. I really don’t have to talk to her. I do pull her out once in a while. Have some conversation. Because you know … once in a while … everyone needs a little …” He lifted her book, “Head.”

  Af
ter a silent moment, Robi burst in laughter.

  “You laughed.”

  “That was funny.”

  “I have not seen you laugh. You just laughed. Wow. Pop a gold star on my head. I’m bragging about this one. And…,” he exhaled, “on that note, I’ll let you be.” He started to stand.

  “Wait.”

  Bishop stopped.

  “Did I say something? Offend you?” Robi asked.

  “No, why?” he asked.

  “Why are you leaving?”

  “You always want to be alone.”

  “Not always,” Robi answered. “People just get tired of asking me if I want company. I’d like … I’d like for you to stay. Talk. I’m enjoying this.”

  With a smile, Bishop sat. “Then I will. I’m enjoying this too. We’ll kick back, relax, talk and listen to the distant sounds of an innocent basketball game.”

  At that moment, loud, Nick’s voice rang out, “Uh! I’m telling! Mom!”

  Beer arriving at her mouth, Robi peered at Bishop. “I’m killing them.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  July 2nd

  Grayson, Kentucky

  Robi literally put salt in Jeb’s wound the next morning. Just before she stitched the one inch gash above his eyebrow, she dashed on a few granules of salt.

  Jeb flinched.

  “I’m sorry, must be an infection.”

  “Fuckin’ hurts.”

  “Poor baby.” She wasn’t gentle either when she began to suture the wound. “That’s what you get when you play tackle basketball.”

  “It was your son’s idea to …ow!” Jeb shrieked. “What the hell? Were you always this rough with your patients?”

  “No. Now, just be quiet before you say anything else that would make me want to hurt you.”

  “I knew it. You’re being rough on purpose.”

  Robi only glared. She finished the job, quickly, precisely, without cosmetic worries, and less than gently.

  “My head’s throbbing.”

  “Serves you right.”

  “Oh, my God, you’re so mean to me.”

  “Is it any wonder?” Robi walked to the sink and washed up. “You needed sutures, my son has a black eye, and Tate has a brush burn on his forearm like I’ve never seen.”